Scholarships &
Tuition Assistance
Help here stacks. Every family starts with parish support, and many receive need-based aid or a named scholarship on top of it.
More families qualify than expect to
Every family at St. Francis already receives tuition support. Tuition covers less than half of what it costs to educate a child here, and the parish community covers the rest before anyone fills out a form.
For families who need more, there's need-based assistance awarded every year through the QCES Foundation, several full-tuition scholarships, and a couple of everyday programs that quietly lower what you owe.
If you're doing the math and it isn't working, call us before you decide against it. That conversation is private and it costs nothing.
Three layers of support
Help here stacks. Many families receive more than one kind.
Parish support, automatic
Every enrolled family receives it. Blessed Sacrament, St. Anthony, St. Francis, and St. Peter parishes underwrite the difference between tuition and the true cost of educating a student.
Need-based assistance, by application
Awarded each year by the QCES Foundation, determined confidentially through the FACTS Grant & Aid Assessment.
Named scholarships, by application
Several cover full tuition. Applications are due April 10, 2026.
One application opens most doors
Nearly every need-based award on this page begins with the same form: the FACTS Grant & Aid Assessment. Complete it once and you're considered for the QCES Foundation's tuition assistance and for the scholarships that require demonstrated need.
It's reviewed confidentially. Your financial information goes to FACTS rather than to the school office, and every application is weighed the same way. Families whose household income falls within 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines are especially encouraged to apply.
Applying doesn't obligate you to enroll. It simply tells you what's possible.
Enrolling mid-year? You can still apply. Assistance isn't limited to the spring window.
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Complete the online FACTS applicationSelect St. Francis Solanus School. Paper applications aren't accepted.
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Upload your documentsYour most recent federal tax return (1040, 1040A, or 1040-EZ) and W-2s for both applicant and co-applicant. If you file separately, both returns for the same year are required.
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Pay the $40 non-refundable feeSubmitted directly to FACTS to complete your application.
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Watch your emailAward notifications go out at the end of May, and awards apply straight to your tuition account.
2026–2027 deadlines
April 10 is the date that matters most. It's the last day for returning families to apply for assistance, and every scholarship application is due the same day.
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Applications openOpen to all families. New family applications stay open as long as funds remain.
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DeadlineReturning family assistance applications close, with all documentation submitted. All scholarship applications due.
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Seat depositResource fee due to guarantee your child's seat.
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AwardsAward notifications sent by email.
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Tuition dueTuition paid in full, or a FACTS payment plan established.
Full-tuition scholarships
Three scholarships awarded through the QCES Foundation cover full tuition. Each has its own application packet, and each requires a completed FACTS assessment. If there's any chance you qualify, apply.
Fr. Augustus Tolton Scholarship
Covers full K–8 tuition for one or more children in a family registered at each of the four Quincy Catholic parishes, awarded on demonstrated financial need. Because these awards are need-based, recipient families are never publicly identified.
Named for Venerable Augustus Tolton, who grew up in Quincy and became the first Black Catholic priest in the United States.
Newcomer's Scholarship
A partially need-based, full-tuition scholarship awarded annually to one student in grades K–8. Students may be Catholic or not, and must not currently have a sibling enrolled in a Quincy Catholic elementary school.
Awarded for one year. Recipients may apply for tuition assistance in later years.
St. Thomas Aquinas Scholarship
Covers full tuition and fees for up to four students across Quincy Catholic Schools. Families must demonstrate financial need and not currently have a student enrolled.
Intended to support students of color, non-Catholic students, students living below the poverty level, and students with disabilities. More than one child in a family may receive it.
Faith isn't confined to religion class. Our students attend all-school Mass weekly, take part in Living Rosary and Stations of the Cross, and follow the Ruah Woods Theology of the Body curriculum school-wide. Eighth graders study apologetics and learn to speak about their faith, and families are often invited into faith formation too.
The Allison Holbrook Memorial Scholarship
The Allison Holbrook Memorial Fund sponsors a scholarship for a St. Francis student each year, and supports special programs at the school besides.
Much of that funding comes from the Allison Holbrook Memorial Vehicle Show, held each August on College Avenue between the school and the parish office. Parishioners display cars, trucks, boats, motorcycles, and tractors at least thirty years old. Admission is by free will donation, and the whole thing runs a single morning.
The Fund has also given the school gift cards to stock the supplies our teachers use most, the kind of help that doesn't make an announcement but shows up in every classroom.
We're grateful to the Holbrook family for making this support possible year after year.
Awards you never have to apply for
Beyond the scholarships above, the QCES Foundation stewards a large number of endowed scholarships, each established by families, parishioners, and alumni who wanted to make Catholic education possible for someone else.
You don't apply for these individually. They're awarded according to each fund's own directives, and they're often part of what makes up a family's assistance package.
When the Foundation assembles an award, it's often drawing on gifts left decades ago by people who never met the child receiving them.
And it doesn't stop at eighth grade. Many St. Francis graduates receive academic and merit scholarships to Quincy Notre Dame, along with financial aid for high school.
Where our graduates go →Two ways any family can save
Gene Grawe Fund
Buy gift cards for things you're already buying, like groceries, gas, restaurants, and home improvement, and participating merchants contribute a percentage directly to your tuition account. You spend nothing extra. Grandparents, godparents, and friends can buy cards on your family's behalf, and many families offset several hundred dollars a year this way.
Office in the St. Peter Church lobby, 2600 Maine Street, Quincy.
Illinois Education Expense Credit
Illinois residents may claim 25% of qualified K–12 education expenses over $250 (tuition, book fees, and lab fees) for a state tax credit of up to $750 per family. Ask your tax preparer about the Illinois Education Expense Credit when you file.
Questions about any of this
These conversations happen often and they stay private. Asking what's possible costs nothing.
Call Jared with questions about applying for tuition assistance or any of the scholarships on this page.
Mrs. Radel is glad to talk through your family's situation privately, before you apply or after.
Assistance and scholarship questions
Still not sure? Call the school office. These conversations are private and carry no obligation.
(217) 222-4077How do I apply for tuition assistance at St. Francis Solanus School?
Complete the FACTS Grant & Aid Assessment online, selecting St. Francis Solanus School, and upload your most recent tax return and W-2s. There's a $40 non-refundable fee paid directly to FACTS. Returning families apply February 6 through April 10, 2026. New families may apply starting February 6 for as long as funds remain.
What scholarships are available at Quincy Catholic schools?
Three full-tuition scholarships are awarded through the QCES Foundation: the Fr. Augustus Tolton Scholarship (full K–8 tuition, one family per parish), the Newcomer's Scholarship (full tuition for one student new to Quincy Catholic schools), and the St. Thomas Aquinas Scholarship (full tuition and fees for up to four students). All are due April 10, 2026. The Foundation also stewards many endowed scholarships awarded without a separate application, and St. Francis awards the Allison Holbrook Memorial Scholarship to its own students each year.
Do we have to be Catholic to receive a scholarship?
No. Families of all faith backgrounds are welcome at St. Francis and are eligible for tuition assistance. Two of the three named scholarships explicitly include non-Catholic students.
How do we know if we qualify?
The only way to know is to apply. Need is determined confidentially by FACTS rather than by the school, and many families are surprised by the result. Applying costs $40 and doesn't obligate you to enroll.
Is the application confidential?
Yes. Financial information goes to FACTS, not to the school office, and is used only to determine need. Recipients of need-based awards are never publicly identified.
When will we know what we received?
Award notifications are emailed at the end of May 2026, and awards apply directly to your tuition account for the coming school year.
Can we receive assistance and a scholarship?
Yes. Support stacks. Every family receives parish support, and a family may also receive need-based assistance and a named scholarship.
Can we apply for assistance if we're enrolling mid-year?
Yes. Assistance isn't limited to the spring window. Call the school office and we'll help you get started.
What if our financial situation changes during the year?
Call the school office. Circumstances change, whether a job loss, an illness, or a death in the family, and it's better to talk early than to fall behind quietly.
What documents do we need?
Your most recent IRS Form 1040, 1040A, or 1040-EZ, plus W-2 statements for both applicant and co-applicant. If you file separately, both returns for the same year are required. If you're applying before your W-2s arrive, call Jared Holbrook at the QCES Foundation, (217) 779-3157.
Is there still help available if we missed the deadline?
Possibly. New family applications remain open as long as funds are available, and the school can sometimes help in other ways. Call before assuming the answer is no.
What our families say
Faith & Tradition
Our family's love for St. Francis Solanus School is deeply rooted in faith and tradition. With Joe's family having attended for generations, it is incredibly meaningful to now watch our children walk the same halls and grow in the same values-rich, faith-centered environment.
Joe & Alexis Darnell FamilyKnown at every stage
St. Francis Solanus meets the individual academic needs of all our children at every stage of development. Our older kids recognized the "St. Francis Solanus difference" during an initial school visit and were ready to start the next day! The parent-teacher partnership is collaborative and focused on helping students do their best, and the Catholic influence of the priests, deacons, DRE, and staff is focused on fostering a true and lasting relationship with Jesus Christ.
Aaron & Karen Weiman FamilyTo be Jesus to others
St. Francis provides a quality Catholic experience. They learn not only how to add and subtract but to know Jesus, love Jesus, and to be Jesus to others. We are proud of our choice to have provided a faith-based education for our children and that our children have continued to choose St. Francis for their children. It is important to celebrate the privilege of a Catholic education and we have been blessed to have been supportive of continuing this legacy.
Deacon Dennis and Pat HolbrookAccountability with grace
The culture is one of partnership. Students are truly known by their teachers and staff. There is accountability paired with grace. Leadership is present and engaged.
The Friye Mamdani FamilyEnthusiasm and dedication
The teachers of St. Francis are observing and always seeking ways to improve the abilities of our students. The enthusiasm and dedication from the teachers has helped our children gain confidence and excel in multiple areas.
Brad & Makenzie Holtmeyer FamilyLessons come to life
The teachers at St. Francis bring lessons to life, creating engaging classrooms where students feel excited about learning. What stands out most is their strong training in literacy instruction, ensuring that every student grows as a confident, capable reader and communicator.
John & Lindsey Kelly FamilyAcademic excellence
St. Francis School offers a welcoming and nurturing environment where academic excellence is paired with strong values rooted in the Catholic tradition.
Dr. Samuel & Danielle Healy FamilyInviting family-feel
The school is small which gives it a warm, inviting family-feel. Staff and students alike begin to know everyone within the building. This brings a sense of comfort knowing our children are being well taken care of while growing in academics and in faith.
James & Tera Terwelp FamilyLoved and cared for.
We find comfort in the fact that our girls are loved and cared for from the moment the door opens and they are welcomed into school each morning until the staff wave goodbye at the end of the day. Everyone they encounter throughout the day at St. Francis is Jesus to them - just what a true Catholic school should be!
Let's find out what's possible for your family.
Come see the school first, then let's talk numbers. Mrs. Radel will walk through your situation privately, with no obligation either way.